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LegacyGT97
04-27-2010, 09:18 PM
DIY Stubby Antenna

I have had this stubby antenna on my car for about 2 weeks now and love the way it looks and preforms.
It was a little pricey at about $13.00 Canadian shipped.

*This did not decrease the reception on my radio at all. This might differ from car to car so beware.

What You Will Need

1x stubby antenna
1x 10mm open end box end wrench
1x vice
1x random small bolts

Here Is How You Do It

1. Unscrew the silver garnish around the antenna.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0003-1.jpg

2. Open your trunk up and pull the carpeting up so that you can see the jack and the antenna motor. Then remove the jack.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0001-1.jpg

3. With your 10mm open end box end wrench undo the bolt that holds the antenna motor in.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0002-1.jpg

4. Pull the antenna accessibly out.

5. Pull the antenna out to its max, place in mast down where the antenna mast goes into the motor and tighten the vice. Then start pulling like mad till the mast pulls out.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0004-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0005-1.jpg

6. Replace the motor into the trunk of your car, make sure to plug the antenna lead back in. (No need for the power plug)

7. Re-bolt your antenna motor back in and replace carpet.

8. Take your chrome garnish and antenna with supplied threads and find a bolt that will thread onto one of the threads supplied. When you do find one make sure that it fits inside the chrome garnish.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0007-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0009-1.jpg


9. Screw all the pieces into the stubby antenna.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0011-1.jpg

10. Replace the base over the antenna and then screw your new stubby antenna onto the base and screw into the antenna base.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0003-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/04/IMG_0012-1.jpg

11. Sit back and enjoy your new antenna!

I Hope this helped and hope it turned out as good as mine did.
TGX4776
04-27-2010, 09:23 PM
Hmmm this might be my solution to my antenna problem.
04-27-2010, 09:37 PM
nice writeup
TGX4776
04-27-2010, 09:50 PM
You dont leave much difference in your poll. I would have said good. It's not the prettiest but it gets the job done for cheap.

Awesome

Great

Good <----------

Meh.... I guess

So so

not my cup o tea

bad
LegacyGT97
04-27-2010, 09:58 PM
You dont leave much difference in your poll. I would have said good. It's not the prettiest but it gets the job done for cheap.

Awesome

Great

Good <----------

Meh.... I guess

So so

not my cup o tea

bad

Changed :smt019

Pictures don't really do it justice. If you could compare what it looks like with the old broken antenna and then with the stubby antenna its a huge difference in style. To each their own though :lol:
TGX4776
04-27-2010, 10:10 PM
lol you didn't have to. I'll see what it looks like when I do it to mine. antenna won't go down for me.
LegacyGT97
04-27-2010, 10:19 PM
Haha no I really didn't give you guys that many options to vote on.

There is a bunch of different stubby antennas on ebay, just look around I am sure you can find one for cheaper. In total it will take between 15 and 30 minutes.

Mine is just a dud and doesn't do anything, the motor makes no noise when turning it on or off.
What would I like to do ideally would to do a antenna delete.. but that is for when I win the lottery.
bmwpride
04-30-2010, 01:51 AM
i would like to do this, this would be a great antenna fix.
04-30-2010, 01:55 AM
but that is for when I win the lottery.


:smt017
the $5 lottery?
LegacyGT97
04-30-2010, 02:03 AM
but that is for when I win the lottery.


:smt017
the $5 lottery?[/quote

:smt022

Sadly yes.

No, I have money to do it now, but I have to use all the money I have for my trip to Europe and schooling, so its not going to get done anytime soon.
chaksq
04-30-2010, 04:59 PM
Cool, although I need a solution for my stupid roof antenna and I'm not sure this would look good with the weird angle.
LegacyGT97
04-30-2010, 10:56 PM
Cool, although I need a solution for my stupid roof antenna and I'm not sure this would look good with the weird angle.

Look on ebay, you can find all sorts of stubby antennas for all sorts of different cars.
quader94
07-22-2010, 10:16 PM
thanks for the write up. I bought the car and the previous owner said he snapped the antenna through a car wash ???
harrymaneuvers
07-23-2010, 09:28 AM
That is how I broke mine on the legacy and my old Mercedes... very common way to break you antenna.
chuckthefuk
07-23-2010, 10:12 AM
Nice write up but how come there is no option for "Looks good but shaved is so much sweeter"

-Chuck
LegacyGT97
08-03-2010, 11:17 PM
Haha! As close to shaved as it will get for now.
Maybe one day soon. I would probably just end up stripping the entire antenna, cables and all out since I never listen to the radio anyways.
hapatimmy
08-29-2010, 01:36 PM
nice job!

i think i am going to do this, but could you tell me the specific type of stubby antenna you got?
LegacyGT97
08-31-2010, 02:13 AM
Thanks!

Its been a while now since I did this, but this is very similar to the one I got.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Mangowalk-4-Black-Pl ... ccessories (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Mangowalk-4-Black-Plain-Short-Stubby-Antenna-Mast-/350366126622?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories)

Mine wasn't as expensive. Just search around for stubby antennas. Its totally up to you what size you want to get. I believe mine is 2.5" or 3". When you get it your going to be looking at it like "How the hell is this going to fit onto my car?!?!" Just take the time to figure it out. I absolutely love mine!
superu
10-26-2014, 10:16 PM
has anyone done this on a sedan, or an A-pillar antenna?
ctbrighton
10-26-2014, 11:31 PM
has anyone done this on a sedan, or an A-pillar antenna?
Yea, you are. And then youre gonna tell us how you did it haha. I would love a flush mounted style, honda civics late 90s early 2000s are close but the bolt patterns off, bit similiar shape etc.
superu
10-27-2014, 11:00 PM
has anyone done this on a sedan, or an A-pillar antenna?
Yea, you are. And then youre gonna tell us how you did it haha. I would love a flush mounted style, honda civics late 90s early 2000s are close but the bolt patterns off, bit similiar shape etc.


DOH! I shoulda' seen that coming eh? :smt006

I like the shark fin ones and little stubbies on the back center of the roof of newer cars, but it could interfere with a roof box/rack...

although a stubby, as from the thread, in the factory location would be a'ight.
r3v_v3ng3's windshield mount antennae is pretty sweet too, i must say
ctbrighton
10-28-2014, 01:48 AM
If its the same metra $20 windshield antenna ive got it and the reception even amplified is so-so, i was just going to fab up a block off plate to go in place of the apillar piece but am on the fence about removing the factory one.
superu
11-18-2014, 12:29 AM
would an antenna booster help out reception on a little guy like this?
Like what's in the newer rigs and window-placed factory antennas. I think the booster module is usually in the c-pillar or a sedan and the tailgate or d pillar of a wagon/forester.